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Bioturbation and reservoir flow characteristics: where did the permeability go?

Article · January 2001

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Ronald Mcdowell David L. Matchen

West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
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 Bi t b tii and
Bioturbation d Reservoir
R i Flow
Fl Characteristics:
Ch t i tii Where
Wh did the
th
h Permeability
P bili
bility Go?
G ?
R
Ronald
ld R
R. David
D id LL. McDowell
M D 1
ll , M
Matchen
t h , 1 and
d Katharine
K th i L L. Avary
A y; 1 1 - West
W t Virginia
Vi gi i G
Geological
l gi l and
d Economic
E i Survey
S
Survey,
y, P
P. O
O.
B 879
Box 879, Morgantown
M
Morgantown,
g t WV 26507-0879
26507 0879
ABSTRACT

TO
OP
T P
TO
Effects of bioturbation on sediment permeability
p y are not always y intuitive.
intuitive
Bioturbation may y alter sorting
sorting,
g disturb sedimentaryy layering,
layering
y g "pipe"
p p sediment
and fluids between sedimentaryy units units, add or remove organicg matter and clay,
clay
y or EFFECTS OF
change g pore
p fluid chemistry.
chemistry y Permeability y mayy increase only y to disappear
pp during g
diagenesis
diagenesis.
g
The Devonian Gordon sandstone of West Virginia g and Pennsylvania
y repre-
repre
p
BIOTURBATION
BIOTURBATION:
sents a strandplain p deposit
p from the westernmost advance of the Acadian clastic
wedge
wedge. g Core recovered from this unit in the Jacksonburgg oil field in West Vir- Vir
gginia comprises p sandstone
sandstone, shale
shale, and conglomerate
conglomerate.
g The sandstones are the Mixes and homogenizes
g existingg
most importantp and most problematic
problematic.
p Some form prolific
p ppayy units,
units others are
"tight"g and unproductive
unproductive.
p sedimentary
i materials
i
Gordon sandstones consist monotonouslyy of veryy fine- fine to fine-grained
fine ggrained qquartz
sand with quartz q pebble
p layers
layers.
y Sandstones are differentiated by y the ppresence or
absence of distinctive sedimentary y structures
structures, pprimarily y well
well-preserved
ppreserved trace
fossils and ripple-scale
ripple
pp scale crossbedding.
crossbeddingg Logs g of the bioturbated sandstones show
1 cm
high g densities; core permeabilities
p are <20 mD.
mD Bioturbation pprobably y enhanced
1 cm
A
Allows the iintroduction
i off
pporosityy and permeability
p y but left cross-stratal
cross stratal "pathways"
p y openp to mineralizingg
ppore fluids.
fluids Silica and siderite cements filled all ppore spacespace.
p On the other hand
hand, “exotic
“exotic”
ti ” sediment
di t iinto
t existing
i ti g
the "featureless" sandstones have low logg densities; core permeabilities
p range
g Photomicrograph showing burrows in micritic limestone that have
from 50 to 500 mD. mD Pore spacep mayy have been maintained by y earlyy entryy of Photomicrograph showing sedimentary laminae in calcite-cemented
calcite cemented
sedimentary y materials been infilled with fecal pellets,
pellets fossil debris,
debris and quartz silt.
silt Sample
ppetroleum or because pathways
p y to cementing g fluids were absent
absent. A remaining g from Middle Ordovician Lehman Formation,
Formation eastern Nye Co.,Co NV,
NV
quartz siltstone disturbed by bioturbation.
bioturbation A single,
single partially clay-
clay
qquestion is whether the featureless sandstones were always y devoid of sedimen-
sedimen 17 7 m above base of unit.
17.7 unit
lined burrow is preserved near the top of the slide.
slide Sample from
taryy structures or had them removed byy thorough g bioturbation.
bioturbation This work was Middle Ordovician Lower Antelope Valley Limestone,
Limestone western
funded by yUU. SS. Department
p of Energy
gy contract DEDE-AC26-98BC15104.
AC26 98BC15104 White Co.,
Co NV,NV 139 m above base of section.
section
Allows the migration
g of pore
p
f i between sedimentary
fluids i
l y
layers - leading
l di g to
t different
diff t
cements and cementingg histories
for burrows and host rock
for
1.2
2m

0
0.15 m
V i l iichnofossils
Vertical h f il (Skolithos
(Sk li h sp.)) are readily
dil visible
i ibl iin this
hi outcrop because
b off their
h i light
li h color.
l
Th rockk is
The i a fine
fine-
fi to medium
medium-grained
di grained
i d quartz sandstone
d cementedd with
i h calcite
l i andd ironi oxide.
id
Th bburrow filli
The fillings consist
i off the
h same quartz sandstone;
d iiron oxide
id cement is i lacking.
l ki Middle
Middl Vertical
V ti l iichnofossils
h f il (Skolithos
((Sk li h andd Arenicolites
A i li sp.) p ) are readily
dily visible
i ibl in
i this
thi outcrop
t p because
b their
th i
C bi L
Cambrian Lodore
d S
Sandstone,
d JJones’
Jones’ H
Hole,
l UUtah,
h approximately
i l 24 m above
b base
b off section.
i filli g hhave bbeen llostt during
fillings d i g weathering.
th i g Th The rockk is
i a medium-grained
di g i d qquartzt sandstone
dt cemented
t d
with
ith a combination
bi ti off illite,
illit , iiron oxide,
id , andd minor
i amountst off calcite.
l it The
Th bburrow fillings
filli g pprobably
b bly
consisted
i t d off qquartz
t sandstone;
d t ; th the cementt was pprobably
b bly predominantly
p d i tly clay. l y C Contact
t t bbetween
t the
th
L
Lower Gros
G Ventre
V t Formation
F ti and d Middle
Middl Cambrian
C b i Flathead
Fl th d S Sandstone,
d t , WiWind d River
Ri C
Canyon,
y ,
Wy i g, approximately
Wyoming, pp i t ly 36 m above b Precambrian-Cambrian
P b i C b i bboundary. d y

Vertical
V ti l iichnofossils
h f il (Diplocraterion
((Dipl i sp.)
p ) are readily
dily visible
i ibl iin this
thi outcrop
t p because
b off
th ddark
the k coloration
l ti off theirth i spreiten
p i ((“u”-shaped,
(“ ” h p d, ““working”
ki g” marks).
k ) ThThe rock k is
i a
medium-grained
di g i d qquartz t sandstone
dt cemented
t d with
ith a combination
bi ti off illite,
illit , iron
i oxide,
id , andd Vertical
V ti l iichnofossils
h f il (Skolithos
((Sk li h sp.) p ) are readily
dily visible
i ibl iin thi
this outcrop
t p bbecause they
th y are more resistant
it t
calcite.
l it B Burrow filli
fillingsg consist
i t off quartz
q t sandstone
dt cemented
t d with
ith calcite.
l it In I contrast,
t t, t weathering
to th i g th
than enclosing
l i g sediments.
di t Th
The rock k iis a medium-grained
di g i d qquartzt sandstone
dt cemented
t d
th spreiten
the p i off these
th ichnofossils
i h f il have h markedly
k dly more iron
i oxide
id cementt andd less
l cal- l with
ith a combination
bi ti off illite,
illit , iiron oxide,
id , andd minor
i amounts t off calcite.
l it TheTh burrow
b fillings
filli g consist
i t off
cite.
it Middle
Middl Cambrian
C b i Fl Flathead
th d S Sandstone,
d t , Wi Windd Ri
River CCanyon,
y ,W Wyoming,
y i g, approxi-
pp i qquartz
t sandstone
dt with
ith calcite
l it cement. t Middle
Middl Cambrian
C b i Fl Flathead
th d SSandstone,
d t , Wi
Wind d Ri
River CCanyon,
y ,
mately
t ly 36 m above
b P
Precambrian-Cambrian
b i C b i bboundary. d y Wy i g, approximately
Wyoming, pp i t ly 36 m above b Precambrian-Cambrian
P b i C b i bboundary. d y
 JACKSONBURG FIELD CORE FEATURES - GORDON PETROGRAPHIC FEATURES - GORDON
The Jacksonburg field, discovered in 1895, is the largest active oilfield in West Virginia. Over 500
A total of 10 Gordon cores were subjected
j to examination and testing.
testing
g Of these,
these two were from wells located northeast of the
wells were drilled in the field before 1901; most were plugged by 1910
1910. The average well spacing A total of 32 thin sections from selected core intervals were prepared and examined.
examined
within the field was 13 acres per well; initial potentials ranged from 0 to 300 BOPD (barrels of oil Jacksonburgg field and were not included as part
p of the field
field’ss core suite.
suite One core was excluded from this suite because it lacked a
per day) (King
(King, 1980)
1980). Primary production has been estimated to lie in the range of 1454 (King
(King, complete
p set of ggeophysical
p y logs;
g another core was excluded because it onlyy penetrated
p the top
p of the Gordon.
Gordon
1980) to 1590 (Morrison, 1991) BOPA (barrels of oil per acre) over an area of 4,338 acres. Pri-Pri
++ positive
p correlation

% IMA
%PR

% CAS
%MI

% PAQ
%OP

% THE
%”OT
PE

M AN G
MEA

SO

% CON
%SEC

% OTASSIU
%PO
% ONO
%MO

% OLYC
%PO

% CON
%SEC

% LAY
%CL
mary production resulting from solution gas drive and gravity drainage produced an estimated

ERM

ORT
significant at  99%

MEA

TIN
13,000,000 barrels of oil by the mid 1920’s.
1920 s. Waterflooding in the field began on a large scale in confidence level

QUES

YS
NG

OCR
GRA

ARY
ABIILIT

ER””
NDA

NDA

S
CRY
1990; 11,864,782
864 782 barrels of oil were produced as a result of waterflooding through February
February, 1999
1999.

RYS
AIN SIZ

Y PO
YST

ARY

ARY
UM
MIXED SHALE AND SANDSTONE CONGLOMERATE PAY AND NON-PAY
NON PAY SANDSTONE

M FE
STA
TY

TAL

ORO
YQ

Y PO
The Jacksonburg field is currently owned and operated by East Resources of Wexford, PA. + positive correlation
Thompson Heirs 8 (095
(095-1124)
1124) F R.
F. R Ball 18 (095-1125)
(095 1125)

ALLIINE

QUA

ELDSPA
LLIN
ZE (mm

OSIT
P t H
Peter Horner 9 (095-741)
(095
( 741)) at  95%

ORO
significant
g

ARTZ
NE QUA
( m)

OSIITY
TY
confidence level

E QU

AR
Q ART

Z
UAR
ANALYSIS OF

RTZ

TZ
- - negative
i correlation
l i
W t l
Wetzel CORE PLUG: significant at  99%
confidence level
PERMEABILITY
He
H = 7.2%
7 2%
High-angle (~30º)
( 30 ) kh = 0
0.24
24 mD
D
MEAN GRAIN SIZE (mm)
- negative correlation
crossbeds
b d SORTING -- i ifi t att  95%
significant
Tyler kv = 0
0.03
03 mD confidence
fid level
l l
%MONOCRYSTALLINE QUARTZ
Sid it
Siderite
Chondrites %POLYCRYSTALLINE QUARTZ ++ - -
OHIO %SECONDARY QUARTZ
PENNSYLVANIA ANALYSIS OF
%POTASSIUM FELDSPAR + - ++ -
Reverse grading CORE PLUG:
PLUG
Doddridge %PRIMARY POROSITY ++

He= 22
22.5%
5% %SECONDARY POROSITY + + - + ++
kh = 0.05
0 05 mD %MICAS ++ - +

S
Scour kv = 37
37.0
0 mD
D Pa Sandstone
Pay %OPAQUES
WEST %CLAYS - +
VIRGINIA
Teichichnus
eichichnus ANALYSIS OF %”OTHER” -- -- -- -- -
Enlargement
E l t off study
t d area showing
h i theth location
l ti Reverse grading
CORE PLUG:
KILOMETERS
of the Jacksonburg field.
field
He= 13.1%
13 1% Bivariate correlation matrix illustrating significant statistical correlations between petrophysical and petrographic
Spiriferid? kh = 3.10 mD features observed in thin section.
section Of particular relevance to this discussion is the strong (>99 %),%) negative cor-
kv = 0
0.08
08 mD
Location of Jacksonburg field in northwestern West Virginia.
Virginia relation between sorting and mean grain size – finer-grained sediment is potentially more susceptible to bioturba-
Microfault tion simply because less energy is required to move it.it But,
But by definition,
definition very well-sorted,
well-sorted fine-grained sediment
Unidentified
Bivalve lacks “contrasting”
contrasting grain sizes that make for easy recognition of bioturbation
bioturbation. Unless heavy mineral,
mineral clay,
clay or
Conglomerates
g actually contain a bimodal distribution of grain sizes:
Crinoid
fine-grained
g sand and g
gravel. Texture varies between matrix and
organic laminae are present,
present it may be practically impossible to tell if this material has been bioturbated.
bioturbated
Pieces
clast support. Scour surfaces are common and many of the con- con
glomerate beds appear to be lags
lags. Other sedimentary structures
include low angle bi- and uni-directional cross beds,
beds high angle (up to
o Non pay
Non-pay
GORDON RESERVOIR (see Matchen Shales are dark-gray,
g y, laminated and interbedded with sandstones
and siltstones. Bioturbation is abundant: Chondrites and Teichichnus
45 ) crossbeds,
crossbeds reverse grading,
l t and
clasts,
orthocone
th
d marine
cephalopods
h l
grading limited ripple beds
i ffossils.
il The
d iindicates
di t th
deposited in a marine environment.
thatt th
beds, shale rip
Th presence off ffossils,
the conglomerates
l
rip-up
il including
i l di
t were
up
Sandstone Gordon Lithofacies Mean
Permeability
Primary Secondary Mean
y Porosity
y Porosity
y Grainsize
Sorting Cements (in order
of abundance))
sp are present
sp. present. Siderite clasts and siderite beds 1-2
1 2 cm thick are
and others
others, 2001 - this meeting)
g) common The sandier portions of the shale beds display ripple
common. Sandstones are fine- fine to very fine
fine-grained
grained and very well
well-sorted.
sorted. Conglomeratic
g ss 4.042 mD 4.68% 0.63% 1.170 mm Poorly
y sorted Silica & clayy
crossbeds and cross
cross-sections
sections of thin brachiopod and bivalve fossils
fossils. Bedding is difficult to distinguish
distinguish, but horizontal laminations and low-
low L i t d ss
Laminated 3 889 mD
3.889 D 4 98%
4.98% 1 53% 0.132
1.53% 0 132 mm W ll
Well-sorted
t d Cl & siderite
Clay id it
angle crossbedding have been identified.
identified Crossbedding is bi-
The reservoir
Th i rockk within
i hi the
h JJacksonburg
k b g fi field
ld , the
h U Upper
pp D Devoniani G Gordon
d sandstone,
d , iis directional and possibly herringbone
herringbone. Microfaulting occurs in the "Featureless"
Featureless ss (PAY) 43 326 mD
43.326 15 98%
15.98% 2 25% 0.128
2.25% 0 128 mm Well sorted
Well-sorted Clay
considered to be a strandplain deposit representing the greatest westward advance of the Acadian sandstones
d t off the
th Ball
B ll 18 well.
ll Single
Si l quartzt pebble
bbl llayers are
common. Bioturbation
Bi t b ti is i rare. Brachiopod,
B hi d bivalve
bi l and d echinoderm
hi d Visibly Bioturbated ss 0 000 mD
0.000 0 40%
0.40% 0 32% 0.340
0.32% 0 340 mm Mod well-sorted
Mod. Calcite clay
Calcite, clay, & siderite
clastic
l i wedge.dg Th The GGordon
d averages g nearly ly 50 ffeet in
i thickness,
hi k , bbut ppay
y thickness
hi k rarelyly exceeds d 20
fossils are rare.
feet; in many places
places, the pay is less than 5 feet thick
thick. Grain size is bimodal; the lower part of the
G d iis comprised
Gordon p i d off fine-
fi to veryy fi
fine-grained
g i d sandstones
d with
i h few
f identifiable
id ifi bl sedimentary
di y G d as a whole
Gordon h l 7 334 mD
7.334 D 4 95%
4.95% 0 99% 0.541
0.99% 0 541 mm M d poorly
Mod. l sorted
t d Clay
Cl & siderite
id it
structures and rare
grained
g
rare, single quartz pebble layers.
i d sandstone
d
grained sandstones
sandstones.
iinterbedded
b dd d with
layers The upper part is comprised of fine- to very fine-
i h conglomerate.
gl P
Payy zones within
i hi theh fi
field
ld occur iin the
h fi fine- PETROPHYSICAL FEATURES - GORDON Pay sandstones within the Gordon have been characterized as “featureless”
featureless (see Matchen and others
others, 2001 -
this meeting) because they are well-sorted,
well sorted very fine
fine-grained,
grained and lack any visible sedimentary structures even in
Outcrop Subsurface Of the
th 796 wells ll located
l t d within
ithi theth Jacksonburg
J k b g field, fi ld, 88 had
h d both
b th gamma
g rayy andd density
d ity logs
l g for
f the
th thin section
section. The petrophysical and petrographic characteristics of the pay sandstones within the Gordon stand
G d interval.
Gordon i t l Logs
L g for
f eachh off these
th wells
ll were scannedd andd converted t d tto ASCII format
f t bby
y samp-
p
M SS.

Big
g Injun
ju
Pi
Price in marked contrast to the Gordon “as
as a whole.
whole ”
MIS

B
Berea Berea li g th
ling the llog
g att a 00.25’
25’ spacing.
p i g IIn addition,
dditi , ffor th
the 6 wells
ll comprising
p i i g the
th field’s
fi ld’ core suite,it , permea-
p
Gantz
bility measurements
bility t were taken
t k by by minipermeameter
i ip t (see
( figure
fig to
t the
th right)
ight)) att a 00.25’
25’ spacing
p i g tto
Fifty-Foot
if allow
ll ththe di
directt comparison
p i off ggeophysical
phy i l llogg pparameters
t and d ppermeability.
bility

OWW
Hampshire

ALLO
L
RIAL
G d
Gordon DEEPER BURIAL - COMPACTION
Formation

UR
AND DISSOLUTION OF FELDSPARS

SHA
BU
Bayard

SH
AN
NIA
VON

Elizabeth
Thompson
p Heirs #8,, 95-1124
DEV

Core Description,
p , Jacksonburg g field
Described 2/4/99 byy Avary,
y, McDowell,, Matchen and Hohn
CORE = LOG
CALCITE
Y
GY

Foreknobs Balltown S b l Key

Symbol K
OG

GRAIN SIZE CLAY

HOLO

Formation
Scour or unconformity
TH

SAND Temco MPMP-401

401 Minipermeameter,
Minipermeameter notebook SILICA
LIT

Gamma Ray
G R D it
Density Single pebble layer
LT
SIL

64 4 VCC M FVF 0 200 2.0 3.0 Stylolite

2770 Siderite Nodules or Clasts
computer nitrogen gas cylinder,
computer, cylinder and permea-
permea
s s SIDERITE
Clay Drapes bility probe (inset) on an outcrop exposure.
exposure
G
Generalized
li d stratigraphic
i hi column
l ffor the
h study
d area Ripple-scale Xbds
Low-Angle
s s s
showing
h i outcrop andd subsurface
b f terminology.
i l s s
Xbds
Clayey
y y Zone in Sandstone
Cementation history inferred for the Gordon
Gordon.
Bioturbation
Fossils G
Gamma R
Ray
y Density
iy Permeability
bili y ((md)
d))
2780 s s s Siderite Bed
Horizontal Bedding
g
Bi-Directional
Bi Directional Cross Bedding

Missing core

Fracture

2790
Payy S
Sandstone
QUESTIONS - GORDON
Q
1 A
1. Are the
th “f
“featureless,”
t l ,” ppay y sandstones
dt off th
the GGordon
d bi bioturbated
t b t d or not? t?
Jacksonburg field s s s 1b If the
1b. th pay
p y sandstones
dt are bioturbated,
bi t b t d, why hy ddo th
they
y still
till retain
t i pporosityity andd permeability?
p bility? (For
((F
2800
s s s
comparison,
p i , see th the characteristics
h t i ti off ththe Vi
Visibly
ibly Bi
Bioturbated
t b t d sandstones
dt off th
the G
Gordon
d iin ththe table
t bl above.)
b )
1 If the
1c. th pay
p y sandstones
dt are nott bioturbated,
bi t b t d, why hy do
d they
th y still
till retain
t i porosity
p ity andd permeability?
p bility?
(F comparison,
((For p i , see th the characteristics
h t i ti off otherth lithologies
lith l gi within
ithi th the G Gordon
d iin theth table
t bl above.)
b )

Permeability
P bility llogs
g were created t d ffor all
ll coredd wells
ll bbyy sampling
pli g 2 What
2. Wh t role
l has
h bioturbation
bi t b ti played
pl y d in
i modifying
difyi g pporosity
ity andd permeability
p bility within
ithi the
th Gordon?
G d ?
“Typical”
“T
Typical
i l” lithologic
li h l i andd geophysical
h i l llogs ffor one off the
h coredd wells
ll (Thompson
(Th ppermeability
bility with
ith the
th minipermeameter
i ip t att the
th same 0.25’
0 25’
H i #8) from
Heirs f the
h JJacksonburg
k b field.
fi ld (See
(S Matchen
M h and d others,
h 2001,
2001 this
hi i t
interval l usedd when
h di digitizing
giti i g th
the wells’
ll ’ ggeophysical
phy i l logs.
l g
meeting.)
i ) Sh
Shown above
b is
i a plot
pl t off gamma
g ray,
y, ddensity,
ity, andd ppermea-
Regional
R gi l stratigraphy
t tig phy off ththe AAcadian
di clastic
l ti wedge
dg
bility ffor F
bility F. R.
R Ball
B ll #18 ((095
(095-1125).
1125))
(f
((from B
Boswellll andd Jewell,
J ll, 1988,
1988, plate
pl t 15,
15, p.
p 32))
View publication stats

ICHNOFOSSIL PERMEABILITY - GORDON BIOTURBATION’S

BIOTURBATION S EFFECT ON PERMEABILITY - GORDON
The visibly bioturbated intervals from four cores were investigated for remaining permeability using the minipermeameter
minipermeameter. In
particular individual ichnofossils (i.e.,
particular, (i e the material infilling those ichnofossils) were examined as were sandstone intervals im-
im SCENARIO 1 - NO INTERBEDDED SHALES
mediately adjacent to visible bioturbation
bioturbation. The small inside diameter of the minipermeameter probe tip (0.125
(0 125” - 3.2mm)
3 2mm)
allowed the acquisition of data from relatively small features; an additional tip with inside diameter (0.0625
(0 0625” - 1.6
1 6 mm) was
Burrows are filled with sediment from the active sedimentary
also available but was not used for this study.
study layer.
y Fill may y include organic
g matter and clay.
y
57.23 mD
3 40 mD
3.40 0 mD Early
E ly calcite
l i cementation i begins
b gi to seall theh bboundaries
d i bbetween
“Active” Sedimentary
y Layer
y sedimentary layers from vertical migration of pore fluids fluids. Where
0 mD vertical
i l trace ffossils
il are ppresent, this
hi cementationi may y originate
igi iin
0 mD 0 mD
D
proximity to burrow fillings thus allowing calcite to penetrate
0 mD 0 mD d p iinto sedimentary
deeper di y llayers.
y IIn addition,
ddi i where
h theh ddensity
i y off CONCLUSIONS
0 mD trace fossils is greater (i
(i.e.,
e bioturbation is more intense)
intense), the seal
0 mD
D i more extensive.
is i
11. The minipermeameter
minipermeameter, equipped with small diameter probe tips
tips, can be used to sample
0 mD permeability
bilit off small-scale
ll l ((millimeters)
illi t ) sedimentary
di t structures
t t suchh as iichnofossils.
h f il
“Active” Sedimentary
y Layer
y
Recently Buried
6 35 mD
6.35 D Sediment 22. Th
The llack
k off sedimentary
di t structures
t t andd contrasting
t ti graini sizes
i iin th
the “f
“featureless”
t l ” pay
0 mD sandstones of the Gordon make it impossible to determine if the sandstones are bioturba-
bioturba
Recently Buried
t d H
ted. However, th the absence
b off early
l calcite
l it cementst associated
i t d with
ith bi
bioturbation
t b ti iin other
th
0 mD
D parts of the Gordon suggests that the “featureless”
featureless sandstones have not been bioturbated
bioturbated.
0 mD
D Sediment
Sandstone
33. In Gordon sandstones without interbedded shales shales, the presence of bioturbation
bioturbation,
Not-so-recently
y
Buried Sediment especially
i ll iin th
the fform off vertical
ti l andd oblique
bli iichnofossils,
h f il and d early
l calcite
l it cementation
t ti
0 mD
D 0 mD
associated with these trace fossils appear to have formed barriers to interstratal migration
off fl
fluids.
id ThThese seals l bbetween
t adjacent
dj t sedimentary
di t layers
l probably
b bl reduced
d d or prevented t d
late-stage
late stage cementation and helped preserve initial permeability
permeability.
0 mD 0 mD

44. In Gordon sandstones with interbedded shales

shales, the same effect noted in #3 occurred
occurred.
0 mD 0 mD
Older Wh bi
Where bioturbation
t b ti was more iintense,
t th
the iinterstratal
t t t l seall was effective
ff ti iin preservingi
Early
E ly calcite
l i cementation i seals l the
h bboundary
d y bbetween sedimen-
di Buried Sediment permeability Where bioturbation was less intense
permeability. intense, an incomplete interstratal seal al-
al
tary layers from vertical migration of pore fluids
fluids. Where vertical Early Calcite l
lowedd dissolved
di l d silica
ili from
f diagenetically
di ti ll altered
lt d shales
h l tto enter
t adjacent
dj t units
it lleading
di tto
trace ffossils
il are present,
p this
hi cementation
i may y originate
igi iin pprox- Cement late-stage
late stage silica and clay cements and a reduction in permeability
permeability.
imity to burrow fillings thus allowing calcite to penetrate deeper Shale

i
into sedimentary
di y llayers.
y NOTE once this
NOTE: hi seall iis ppresent, pperme- 55. In the Gordon
Gordon, the combination of bioturbation and early calcite cementation produced
0 mD
ability may be preserved in the buried layers
layers. seals
l th
thatt iimpeded
d d th
the iinterstratal
t t t l migration
i ti off fl
fluids
id bbutt hhad
d littl
little effect
ff t on iintrastratal
t t t l
S d t
Sandstone
fluid flow
flow. The net effect was to increase vertical compartmentalization of the GordonGordon.

“Active” Sedimentary
y Layer
y

Permeability
P bili y map p ffor core ffrom PPeter H
Horner #9 ((095
(095-741)
741)) - from
f a Permeability
P bilit map for
f core from
f F.
F RR. B
Ball
ll #19 (095
(095-1126)
1126) - from
f a
Recently Buried
depth of 2885
2885.00’. The only permeability detected is in a bioturbated depth of 3091
3091.00’. Note the relatively high permeability (> 50 mD) Sediment
sandstone
d ppod
d iin the
h upper
pp rightigh corner off the
h core and
d ffrom a hhori-
i i a hhorizontal
in i t l ttrace ffossil
il ((probably
b bl Chondrites
Ch d it sp.)) ini the
th upper left
l ft
zontal trace fossil (probably Chondrites sp.).sp ) All vertical trace fos- corner of the core
core. The remainder of the core shows no permeability
permeability. REFERENCES CITED
During diagenesis
diagenesis, compacted and altered shales shed dissolved
sils
il are tightly
igh ly cemented. d
silica
ili tto pore fl
fluids.
id S Sandstones
dt adjacent
dj t tto iinterbedded
t b dd d shales
h l
and not previously sealed with early cement
cement, may be subject to Boswell,
B ll R
R., 1988
1988, St
Stratigraphic
ti hi expression
i off bbasementt ffault
lt zones iin northern
th W
Westt
l t t
late-stage silica
ili cementation.
t ti Additi
Additionally,
ll clay l cementt may also
l Virginia: Geological Society of America Bulletin,
Bulletin V.
V 100,
100 p.p 1988
1988-1998
1998.
0 mD 0 34 mD
0.34 form
form.
King, P.,
King P 1980,
1980 Pilot waterflood justification
justification, Stringtown Gordon reservoir Wetzel County
County,
Not-so-recently
y
94 44 mD
94.44 D 18 56 mD
18.56 D
Buried Sediment
W t Virginia:
West Vi i i iinternal
t lP
Pennzoil
il C
Company AFE supporting ti ddocument,
t unpaginated.
i t d
0 mD Early
E l CCalcite
l it SiO2 SiO2
0 mD Cement Matchen,
M t h D D., McDowell,
M D ll R.,
R andd Avary,
A K.,
K 2001,
2001 Reservoir
R i Characterization
Ch t i ti off th
the
7 59 mD
7.59 D Gordon sandstone in Northern West Virginia
Virginia, This Meeting - Wednesday AM Posters.
Posters
Sandstone
17.75 mD Morrison, G.,
Morrison G 1991,
1991 Stringtown geologic study: Pennzoil Products Company interoffice
16 51 mD
16.51
correspondence,
d 4 p. plus
l unpaginated
i t d attachment.
tt h t

SiO2 Older
SiO2 Buried Sediment

Permeability map for core from Thompson Heirs #8 (095 (095-1124)

1124) - from a
depth
p of 2777.5’. With one exception p ((see upper
pp right
g corner),), ppermea-
bility is restricted to fillings in horizontal trace fossils
fossils.

Permeability
bili within
i hi the
h Gordon
d iis iisolated
l d ffrom pore fluids
fl id migrating
i i across stratall bounda
bbounda-
d Late Silica
0 mD Cement
ries.
i This
hi isolation
i l i may prevent additional
ddi i l cements from
f forming
f i ((e. g., Gordon
d pay sand sand-
d
stones)) andd also
l acts as a barrier
b i to verticali l migration
i i off petroleum.
l Horizontal
i l or intrastratal
i l Sh l
Shale
migration
i i off flfluids
id iis unaffected.
ff d
0 mD
0 mD 0 mD Sandstone

6.13 mD
0 mD 0 mD SCENARIO 2 - INTERBEDDED SHALES
0.48 mD
0 mD 0.60 mD
0 mD 4.44 mD Burrows are filled
B fill d with
ith sediment
di t ffrom th
the active
ti sedimentary
di t
0 mD layer Fill may include organic matter and clay
layer. clay.
0 27 mD
0.27 0 mD
D
Permeability
bili within
i hi the h Gordond may bbe isolated
i l d from f pore fluids
fl id migrating
i i across stratall
0 mD
0 mD b
boundaries.
d i Theh initial
i i i l ddensity
i off ichnofossils
i h f il (i.e., (i intensity
i i off bioturbation)
bi b i ) in
i combination
bi i
6.88 mD
“Active” Sedimentary
y Layer
y
with
i h early
l calcite
l i cementation i help
h l determine
d i the h completeness
l off the
h seal.
l Relatively
l i l
0 mD
94.58 mD 1 17 mD
1.17 0 mD
complete
l seals l prevent silica-saturated
silica
ili saturated d fl
fluids
id ffrom migrating
i i out off di diagenetically
i ll altered
l d
shale
h l layers
l to form
f late
llate-stage
stage silica
ili and d clay
l cements - permeability bili iis preservedd (e.g.,
(
Recently Buried
0 mD
0 mD
D Sediment Gordon
d pay sandstones).
d ) Incomplete l iinitial
i i l seals l allow
ll these h fluids
fl id to penetrate adjacent
dj
11 97 mD
11.97 0 mD
D
sedimentary
di llayers - late
l stage cementation
late-stage i may remove all ll remaining
i i permeability
bili (e.g.,
(
0 mD 0 mD
other
h Gordon d sandstones).
d ) Horizontal
i l or intrastratal
i l migration
i i off fl fluids
id may or may not bbe
0 mD
effected
ff d ddepending
di on the h pervasiveness
i off llate-stage
late stage cementation. i
0 64 mD
0.64 Not-so-recently
y
0 mD
D 0 mD Buried Sediment
0 mD
0 mD Sh l
Shale

0 mD
0 mD
Sandstone

Permeability map for core from Thompson Heirs #8 (095-1124) - from a

d p h off 2777
depth 2777.0’.
0’ Filli
Fillings
g iin vertical
i l and d ““oblique”
bliq ” trace ffossils
il show
h
no permeability; bioturbated and unbioturbated sandstones show no Permeability map for core from JJ. H
H. Dawson F-14 (095-1532) - from a
ppermeability.
bili y H
Horizontal
i l bburrow fillings
filli g exhibit
hibi ppermeability
bili y ranging
gi g d p h off 3270
depth 3270.1’.
1’ Th
The only
ly permeability
p bili y ddetected
d iin this
hi core segment
g
from < 0.5
0 5 mD to > 90 mD.
mD comes from horizontal burrows
burrows.